Play Safe

EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME.

What is Play Safe?

Every season, English football comes together to promote Play Safe.

It’s a year-round campaign that amplifies the importance of safeguarding across all levels of the game.

Making sure football is safe, fun, and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere, every time.

Why is Play Safe important?

Anyone’s love of football can be taken away by negative behaviour and abuse. Safeguarding prevents this from happening. A Play Safe weekend at the start of each season is there to put safeguarding at the forefront of people’s minds. It reminds everyone to watch, listen, talk, act in every football environment.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day 2025 will take place on 11 February 2025, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘

Created in consultation with young people across the UK, this year Safer Internet Day (SID) will be focusing on the issue of scams online and for young people, how to protect themselves and others, as well as what support is available to them.

Find the social media toolkit here

Here are some tips for parents and carers to follow:-

• Keeping you and you loved ones safe online
• Enjoy going online together and talk regularly about your family’s online lives
• Take online security measures seriously
• Look out for warning signs that someone or something online cannot be trusted
• Remember that anyone can be a victim of a scam
• Know where to get help if something goes wrong

You can also complete the free online Safeguarding Awareness for parents and darers here.

You can also find out more information for the following age groups, featuring tips on the top scams to look out for.

7-11 years,11-14 years and 14-18 years.

Sue Ravenlaw, FA head of safeguarding, said: “It’s great to be supporting this year’s Safer Internet Day, on 11 February 2025 and promoting their helpful online safety experts’ top tips.

"As the nation’s favourite game grows so too does its digital footprint.

"Most of us are spending more time online, in fan forums, club socials, checking match reports and training schedules, using digital training tools, accessing courses, articles and so much more. Staying safe whilst doing this is essential, so please check out the Safer Internet Day top tips on ‘Protecting yourself and others from scams online’.”

The Play Safe Weekend

The Play Safe Weekend comes around every year to celebrate our collective effort, support, and care.

For Play Safe 2024 over the weekend of 28/29 September, we asked everyone to know their role in safeguarding.

This means no matter what role you have in football, you know your role and responsibility in making it a safe space for all.

FIND YOUR ROLE HERE

Parents and carers remain responsible for checking their child is taken care of in football.

Things to do as a parent/carer:

● Complete the free, 30-minute online ‘Safeguarding Awareness for Parents/Carers’ course.
● Know who your child’s coach/manager is and how to contact them.
● Know how to contact your club’s welfare officer and where to report a concern.
● Ask about FA DBS Checks and safeguarding qualifications of the staff at your club.
● Know what unacceptable behaviour looks like and the club’s Codes of Conduct.
● Keep on checking in with your child(ren) – make sure they know how to report a concern.

Committee Members have an explicit responsibility to ensure safeguards are consistently in place across the clubs’ activities. Working together you can really make a difference to keep everyone safe.

Things to do as a committee member:

● Make sure your club is following a safer recruiting process - you can find that information here
● Support coaches, check they’re working with the right ratios and role modelling the clubs code of conduct, make sure you’re happy with the way they communicate and engage with players.
● Make sure all your club’s digital/social media communications follow safe practice; they should be for specific football purposes.

As a coach or manager, you’re in a position of trust and responsibility to many.

Things to do as a coach or manager:

● Check and challenge your own behaviour, as well as other peoples. Shouting at children is not okay.
● Make sure you’re working with another DBS-checked coach.
● Only communicate online with a child’s parent or carer. Keep it football related.
● Be fair, encouraging, inclusive. Try to understand every child’s needs, speak with their parent/carer about what would work best for their child.

On or off the pitch, players should expect to feel safe, always.

Things to do as a player:

● If something feels wrong or unsafe, know how and where to report a concern.
● Keep talking to your parent/carer. Tell them if you’re worried about anything.
● Expect to play in a safe environment, always.
● Be positive and always support other players.

Being at the heart of the game, its important referees/match officials look after themselves and others.

Things to do as an under-18 referee/match official whether on matchday or at training events:

● Know who you’re officiating/training with, how you’re getting to the venue and who the club/event organiser point of contact is.
● For matches, check important details, like changing facilities and post-match support.
● Be prepared for a challenging game. Know how and where to report a problem.

Things to do as an adult referee/match official:

● Know who you’re officiating/training with and who the main point of contact is.
● Be responsible before offering under-18 officials a lift; get parent/carer consent, consider will there be a third person in the vehicle, ensure they sit in the rear of the vehicle.
● Check important details before a match, like changing facilities or post-match support.
● Be prepared for a challenging game and know how to manage conflict. Know how and where to report a concern.

As a designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) or Club Welfare Officer (CWO), you’re the first port of call.

Things to do as a DSO/CWO:

● Know who your members are and how to reach them. Consider how you can ensure everyone knows who you are and how to contact you.
● Share news and information about Play Safe to everyone at your club.
● Keep safeguarding as a regular item at committee meetings.
● Think about what could make a positive difference at your club/league and who could help you bring about that change.

Supporters should keep the sidelines positive and supportive. This way, the game is better for all.

Things to do as a spectator:

● Never shout abusive or negative things during a match. Keep it positive. Clap for everyone.
● If there’s something that feels off or unsafe, report it to the club welfare officer, or member of staff.

When everyone knows their role, together we create an ever-safer game.

01 Jan 2024 22:08

Three survivors’ stories of sexual abuse in football

Three survivors of non-recent childhood sexual abuse in football, share their experiences and discuss how safeguarding requires adults, including parents/carers to spot the signs, ask the right questions and speak up to prevent abuse from happening.

Top Tips For Filming On Your Phone

For a chance to tell us about what you do to make the game safer, click to download the filming guide below. Within it you’ll find the link to submit your video and consent form.

DOWNLOAD HERE